Rangers land Blades ace Bartley

SHEFFIELD United last night agreed to terminate Kyle Bartley’s loan from Arsenal after signing fellow centre-half Neill Collins on a permanent basis from neighbours Leeds.

Bartley, who had been expected to spend the rest of the season at Bramall Lane, completed a shock move to SPL giants Glasgow Rangers within hours of Collins’ arrival for an undisclosed fee.

The teenager’s departure, confirmed following talks with his parent club Arsenal, leaves manager Micky Adams with a huge void to fill at the heart of defence for this evening’s Championship fixture with Leicester City.

However, Bartley’s exit provides Adams with extra room for manoeuvre when the Football League re-opens for business shortly.

“Neill is used to being at big clubs,” Adams said. “So he is not going to be fazed by coming here.

“He’s experienced, puts himself about and he’s also got a very strong vocal presence too which is an important quality to have.”

Collins, who played two games for United during a brief loan spell in South Yorkshire earlier in his career, yesterday put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year contract but is ineligible for selection against Sven Goran Eriksson’s side.

The former Scotland under-21 international represented Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Preston North End before his switch to Elland Road.

United also confirmed that striker Daniel Bogdanovic had rejected the opportunity to join Hibernian on loan before yesterday’s transfer deadline.